Month: April 2023

A few weeks back, I decided to focus my ecofeminist action on planting a vegetable garden. I landed on this idea after I was continuously brought back to my sense of place, being actively involved in nature, and planting vegetables with my mother as a child. I believe that the tranquility that nature provides brings someone back to themself. Kingsolver states from Knowing Our Place that “people need wild places. Whether or not they think they do, they do. They need to experience a landscape that is timeless, whose agenda moves at the pace of speciation and ice ages (Kingsolver 2).  Every morning while watering the plants I am reminded of where I come from, the kind of person I want to be, and the love I have for the Earth.  

In my last blog posting, I discussed how I used old biodegradable egg cartons to start the vegetable garden in. I planted broccoli, onion, tomato, cucumber, and hot peppers. Since then, the vegetables have grown exponentially. I decided on putting the plants in our mudroom where it would get the best light as well as using a grow light so that the plants can truly thrive.

Below are some updated images of my vegetable garden.

The Herbs and Vegetables Under a Grow Light

As mentioned in my last blog as well, when my roommate came home from work and realized that a vegetable garden was being created, he instantly wanted to get involved by planting an herb garden. 

Below is a picture of my roommate’s herb garden and the progress it has made so far. 

There were, however, a few issues that I ran into. The first issue was that my landlord and friend did not want a vegetable garden planted directly into the earth in our backyard. At first, he asked, “why do you even want to plant a vegetable garden in the first place?” He also stated that he did not want a garden in general, and that he did not want to deal with the “upkeep” even though he would have no involvement with the gardening process itself or keeping the garden healthy, weeded, and thriving. Although he understood that he would not be involved with the garden in any way, shape or form, he still did not want one in backyard. Therefore, I negotiated with him until we came to a mutual agreement. I would build a raised garden bed so that it would not ruin the grass, it would keep all parties happy, and I could transport the garden elsewhere if necessary. 

Below are a few ideas as to what I want the raised garden to look like. My roommate just finished building a deck, and my boyfriend is in the process of renovating his bike shop, therefore there is a lot of wood and building supplies that can be repurposed for the creation of a raised garden. 

Here is a photo of my roommate and boyfriend organizing the wood for building.

After the conversation I felt invigorated and proud that I stood up for what I believed in. Ultimately, I hope that he comes to appreciate the garden and realize the meaning behind what it holds. Maybe one day he will even create a garden of his own and have a hand in reinventing our current food system and have a newfound vigor for nature and life. The conversation with my landlord reminded me of the article Gender Equality and State Environmentalism by Kari Norggard and Richard York in regard to the difference between men and women when it comes to the environment. Women are the first to see disparities within the natural surroundings around them as well as being more environmentally aware then men and boys (Noorgard, York 508). Women across the world are also more likely to become involved with organizations that help protect our environment (Noorgard, York 509). Through these statistics, it can be stated that through socialization women are more often than not looked at as nurturers, caretakers and family oriented, therefore environmental concerns and nature are more associated and connected with women than men (Noorgaard, York 508). As someone who has had discussions with my landlord about environmental responsibilities such as recycling and single use plastics before and have discussed why it is beneficial for our earth and people’s livelihood, I couldn’t help but think about how many other people are out there who aren’t educated on these topics or do but just don’t care because they think that what they do won’t make a difference. It made me more determined than ever to stand together with the people in my life who are just as connected to nature as I am to fight for environmental justice and work towards equality within this patriarchal and capitalist world we live in. 

After reading about different means of activism from the article 13 Simple Ways to Support feminist Activism on International Women’s Day I realized that just by having a conversation it can make all the difference. Sam Smethers, an equality campaigner states, “Campaigning for women’s rights isn’t just about protesting on the streets. Often the most empowering activities involve educating yourself about women’s issues, and standing in solidarity with women and communities whose voices are more marginalized than your own” (Devaney 2020).  Throughout this class I have been educated on what ecofeminism is and all the forms that comes with it. I have learned about intersectionality and the association that women have to nature. I have learned about the atrocities of the meat and commercial industry. And I have learned about myself, what I am passionate about, and how to use my own voice to stand up for what I believe is right. Through the act of gardening, I was able to influence those around me and inspire them to do the same. I was able to influence my roommate and boyfriend to get involved in the process which led to them discussing the gardening process with other people. Just by planting fresh produce, I was able to bring people together, get them more connected to nature, practice a more sustainable action, and help benefit my own health as well as the people in my life, all from one blog posting.

 

Works Cited:

Devaney, S; Crocket, M. (2020). 13 Simple Ways to Support Feminist Activism on International Women’s Day. Stylist. https://www.stylist.co.uk/visible-women/feminist-activism-uk-examples-ideas-intersectional-feminism-activists-international-womens-day/194468

Kingsolver, Barbra. Knowing Our Place. 1-2.

Norgaard, Kari., & York, Richard. Gender Equality and State Environmentalism. Gender & Society. August. 2005. https://pages.uoregon.edu/norgaard/pdf/Gender-Equality-Norgaard-York-2005.pdf

After mulling over a plethora of different ecofeminist activist actions to focus on, my mind continuously was pulled back to my childhood backyard where I helped my mother raise chickens and plant vegetables in the garden. I was drawn back to Bell Hooks statement that “when we love the Earth, we are able to love ourselves more fully” (Hooks 363). Therefore, I thought what better way to connect the knowledge I have obtained this semester and the roots of my own place, than to create a garden myself. 

By using old biodegradable egg cartons my roommates and I had used, I planted various vegetables including broccoli, onion, tomato, cucumber, and hot peppers. After only a week, the broccoli and tomato plants are already sprouting. My boyfriend was thrilled with the idea and is excited to be able to use the fresh produce we eventually harvest to cook with. To my pleasant surprise, once my roommate got home and saw that we were starting a vegetable garden, he was ecstatic and decided that he wanted to help contribute to the process by growing a herb garden. 

I realized that one small action of starting a vegetable garden inspired others to do the same thing. Having conversations can have great influence, but getting actively involved can help to create an even greater change. I hope that by starting a garden, discussing it with my three roommates, and having them get involved, helps to influence other people to do the same thing. Eventually, once the garden is fully flourishing, I hope to spread the wealth by sharing the produce with my friends and family. Although it won’t be the largest garden, I thought about the impact that community gardens and urban gardens have on the community itself. By planting fresh produce, it has the ability to bring people together as well as benefit the overall health of the community. 

Having fresh produce is also a luxury that not many people are able to have, whether they live in a food desert or they simply cannot afford it. Low-income women are more vulnerable to food insecurity (Smith 23). It was stated by Margaret Smith in a Fact Sheet called Gender and Food Insecurity: The Burden on Poor Women that in the United States, “Women living in areas likely to be food deserts are living at a crossroads of disadvantage, as they are more likely to be women of color and living in poverty” (Smith 24). Creating something as simple as a garden, can become a catalyst for change. By implementing urban gardens and community gardens it could help to create jobs as well as benefit the health of community members. In a TedTalk that I will link below, a man named Ron Finley from South Central LA started a vegetable garden that had a massive influence on the community. Finley describes planting your own food to “printing your own money” since one plant will produce hundreds of seeds to continue the cycle of planting and harvesting (Finley 2013). 

Gardening can also help change the lives of women and help them become more connected to the earth. The Wen’s Soil Sisters program in the United Kingdom does just that. Women who have seeked refuge from domestic violence joined the program which helps to support them “on their journey to recovery, by connecting them to nature through gardening, food growing and environmental activities, often referred to as social and therapeutic horticulture” (Rasmussen 2019). Ultimately gardens have the ability to help heal, to help become a feminist leader, and to be once again connected to nature. 

 

Link to the TedTalk: A Guerrilla Gardener in South Central LA

https://www.ted.com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerrilla_gardener_in_south_central_la?languag

Works Cited:

Finley, R. (2013). Ron Finley: A guerrilla gardener in South Central LA. [TedTalk]. https://www.ted.com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerrilla_gardener_in_south_central_la?languag

Hooks, Bell. Touching the Earth. 363-368.

Rasmuseen, S. (2019). Soil Sisters – Ecofeminism in Practice. Wen. https://www.wen.org.uk/2019/12/09/ecofeminism-in-practice/

Smith, M. (2012). Fact Sheet. Gender and Food Insecurity: The Burden on Poor Women. 23-29. https://socwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Fact-Sheet-Gender-and-Food-Insec..pdf

There is a definitive link between the oppression of women and the oppression of nature which is shown all around the globe in different ways. 

Ivone Gebara, a “liberation theologist” and author of Ecofeminism: A Latin American Perspective, discusses ecofeminism in a new way. Gebara believes that in order to understand the different trials and tribulations that occur in someone’s daily life and how to understand or solve them, we have to first reflect on which type of daily life we are looking at. Wherever someone resides in the world, there are a multitude of caveats that come along with it. For example, solutions for marginalized women who suffer daily under a patriarchal society and a “capitalist dominion of nature” would differ for someone from a middle-class family living in the United States (Gebara 95). Gebara compares daily life for poor women to being in jail due to the patriarchal, capitalist system (Gebara 95). Women are seen as providers, providers of food, a clean-living environment, healers for loved ones (Gebara 95). These marginalized women are aware of their difficulties they inevitably face in life however they “have no real means to search for and experiment with new alternatives” (Gebara 95). When young women are becoming pregnant in their early teenage years, this limits their life choices as well as educational advancements (Gebara 95). It is a continuous cycle that helps to create both poverty and inconstancy (Gebara 96). Within the patriarchal structure there is no equality, no egalitarian social structure to help overcome poverty, environmental problems, social inequalities and the oppression of women (Gebara 96). 

 In Recife, Brazil people who are living along a canal are being subjected to immense amounts of garbage (Gebara 96). Instead of helping to take the garbage out of the canal, more trash is added while the canal waits to be cleaned by workers sent by city officials, however to no avail since the canal becomes littered once again the next day (Gebara 96). A ten-year-old child named Larissa Silva who lives in a cardboard house with her family asked the interviewer, Talia Correa, to answer the question “Do you think I like living here?” Correa responded with no, however Larissa stated “But I do. It’s the only life I know” (Correa 2014). In Recife, there was a photo of a child, who was only nine-years old, trying to find cans to sell by wading and swimming in the canal filled with garbage (Correa 2014). There are thousands of children that are living in slums in neighborhoods in Recife (Correa 2014). After the photo of the child, named Paulo, was gaining traction and was put in the press, then both international authorities and the local government took action, the government helping Paulo’s family by placing him and his family on welfare (Correa 2014). However, this doesn’t help the thousands of other children and families who collect aluminum to sell for money to provide for their families and are subjected to bathing and playing in garbage filled rivers (Correa).  

“You can help some people, but you can’t change a hierarchical structure that reproduces unfair solutions” -Ivone Gebara

There are also links to violence towards the land and violence towards indigenous women (Gendered Impacts 2015). During environmental assessments, the question of who is going to be impacted and how, is not asked, there is only a statement that money and jobs will be abundant (Gendered Impacts 2015). When the Baker Lake in Canada was subjected to environmental degradation from mining, the Inuit women who rely on the land for a multitude of ways were also subjected to an increase in violence at home, at the mining site as well as in the community (Gendered Impacts 2015). Indigenous women have a deep relationship to the land, as it sources their identity and song (Gendered Impacts 2015). By mining the Inuit’s land, it not only caused important animals to change their migration routes but was a deep violation of the women’s livelihood and created a loss of cultural practice and traditional knowledge (Gendered Impacts 2015).

It can be stated that female poverty and the destruction of ecosystems are linked. In many parts of the world, Africa included, women solely hold the responsibility of caring for the harvest which includes tilling fields, picking out the produce to plant and making sure the crops are cared for (Maathai 2000). Since women are the nurturers and caretakers of the plants, looking after the children and fetching the water, if there is environmental damage, a dry well or agricultural contamination from pollution, pesticides or herbicides, then they are the first to notice any abnormalities (Maathai 2000). Back in 1977, environmentalist and women’s right activist from Kenya, Wangari Maathai, became the founder of the Green Belt Movement (Maathai 2000). This movement helped encourage farmers, who are mostly women, “to plant “Green Belts” to stop soil erosion, provide shade, and create a source of lumber and firewood” (Maathai 2000). Since then, over fifteen million trees have been planted as well as creating income for eighty thousand people (Maathai 2000). The Green Belt Movement was created because women were being affected by environmental degradation in both rural and urban areas (Maathai 2000). There was no firewood or fruit to help children that were malnourished, drinking water had been contaminated due to pollution, pesticides and herbicides used to grow “cash crops” and women and their families became weak, unable to fight off diseases due to the impoverishment from the degraded environment (Maathai 2000). Within the Green Belt Movement came influence for neighbors to start planting trees on their farms which ultimately drew so much attention that parliament and the president said the environment needs to be protected (Maathai 2000). What started with women empowerment resulted in forests being saved from environmental degradation, and spaces and forests not being privatized or used for economic gain (Maathai 2000). 

“Environmental protection is not just about talking. It is also about taking action.” – Wangari Maathai

Like the Green Belt Movement in 1977 in Kenya, Africa, in India in the 1970’s another movement was on the rise, known as the Chipko movement which involved villagers embracing trees so that they would not be felled by contractors’ (The Chipko Movement). Ultimately thousands of trees were saved from being felled due to village women hugging the trees (The Chipko Movement). This movement paved the way for future successes. In the 1980s, Chipko protestors were able to help achieve a fifteen-year ban in the Himalayan forests for felling (The Chipko Movement). After this movement, felling in other states in the country ceased and it “generated pressure for a natural resource policy that is more sensitive to people’s needs and ecological requirements” (The Chipko Movement). 

These movements could not have been as successful as they were without first empowering women. Ordinary people have the power to make a difference, put pressure where pressure is needed, and create change. There are all different types of misinformation that can be obtained through the internet or by dictatorial government ideology such as in Kenya after the Cold War when information was strictly controlled, and people became oppressed and full of fear (Maathai 2000). The people who live in the forests and along rivers are the ones who are living through environmental degradation and therefore should be the ones that share their stories, speak out, and highlight the true narrative, the root of the problem, on a local as well as national level. 

 

Works Cited:

Correa, Talita. “The Brazilian Slum Children Who Are Literally Swimming in Garbage.” VICE, 30 Jan. 2014, https://www.vice.com/en/article/kwpwja/the-brazilian-slum-children-who-are-literally-swimming-in-garbage-0000197-v21n1. 

Gebara, Ivone. “Ecofeminism: A Latin American Perspective.” Crosscurrents. 2003. 95-102. 

Maathai, Wangari. “Speak Truth to Power.” The Green Belt Movement, 4 May 2000, http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/wangari-maathai/key-speeches-and-articles/speak-truth-to-power. 

“The Chipko Movement.” EduGreen, Teri, 2007, http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/forestry/chipko.htm.

“2015 Gendered Impacts series (4): Land is Identity (2:28).” YouTube, KAIROS Canada, 14, March 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LopcPrSvDBw

“2015 Gendered Impacts series (5): Violence Against The Land (3:02).” YouTube, KAIROS Canada, 21, March 2016. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mlbc2dD0gP0&t=28s